This is the time of year when towns all over Vermont are preparing for one of Vermont's most exciting traditions: the annual winter carnival. You haven't fully experienced winter in New England unless you've been to a winter carnival in the Green Mountain State!

Here are just a few of the things you might find at a Vermont winter carnival: breathtaking ice sculptures, live music, great food, costumes, crafts, contests, parades, bonfires, and fireworks. And, of course, there's the crowd. Winter carnivals are among the most anticipated of annual Vermont events. Entire communities gather together in celebration. There is always plenty to see and do, so plan your trip to Vermont around a winter carnival!

Sports are a huge part of the fun at a winter carnival for spectators and competitors alike. Sports can take the form of races, competitions, demonstrations, and kids' activities. Many carnivals have winter versions of summer sports, such as snow golf and snow volleyball, in addition to the usual skiing, sledding, etc.

In January, Stowe hosts one of Vermont's most well-known winter carnivals. Stowe is not the only winter carnival destination - several popular winter carnivals take place every February as well.

The Burlington Winter Festival is a wonderful excuse to visit the beautiful city of Burlington. The edge of Lake Champlain is home to all kinds of activities and games, rides, live entertainment, and a nationally accredited snow sculpting competition. "Our waterfront is the jewel of Vermont," says Nancy Bove of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. Let's hope there is plenty of snow to make the festival really sparkle.

If you're planning a trip to southern Vermont, you won't want to miss the annual Brattleboro Winter Carnival, rumored to be the oldest ongoing winter carnival in the country. During the parade on the opening Saturday, enjoy sugar on snow, a unique delicacy in which hot maple syrup is drizzled across a dish of clean snow and served with pickles and doughnuts. "What I think is special about Brattleboro in general, and the carnival in particular, is how much the community is involved in it," says Deb Heller, president of the 2006 carnival. If you're looking for an authentic, small-town Vermont experience, you'll love the Brattleboro Winter Carnival.

Call the phone numbers listed below for more information and a schedule of events.

Vermont Winter Carnival Schedule 2008:

Jan. 18 - 26	Stowe Winter Carnival	Stowe, VT (802) 253-7321 or (800) 247-8693 Featuring an ice carving competition, celebrity game show, snow golf, snow volleyball tournament, races, the famous Village Night Block Party, and more!
Feb. 9	Burlington Winter Festival	Waterfront Park & Echo Center, Burlington, VT (802) 864-0123 Featuring a snow sculpture competition, kids' games, exhibits, wagon rides, a penguin plunge in Lake Champlain for Special Olympics, a snow playground, live entertainment, and more!
Feb 22 - Mar 2	Brattleboro Winter Carnival	Brattleboro, VT (802) 254-4565 Featuring music, fireworks, karaoke, ice fishing derby, a queen's pageant, a pancake breakfast, ice skating show, sleigh rides, $1 movies, a petting zoo, country western jamboree, and more winter activities for the whole family!
Feb. 22 - 23	Middlebury College Winter Carnival	Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT (802) 388-4356 or (802) 443-5000 The oldest and largest student-run carnival in the country . Featuring fireworks, an ice show, ski competitions, and more!